At Thursday’s session, the Debrecen city council amended several points of the new parking regulation adopted last November. One of the most important decisions was to postpone the implementation date: instead of July 1, 2025, the new rules will take effect on August 1.
The changes aim to make downtown parking easier for residents, encourage public transportation use, and reduce traffic congestion in the city center. The system will be zone-based and will cover many streets where parking was previously free—an initiative prompted by residents facing increasing difficulty finding parking near their homes.
Key modifications approved by the council:
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The new system will come into force on August 1.
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Registration will only require a residential address card; the address on the vehicle registration does not need to match the residential card.
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Employer-provided company cars under 3.5 tons can park for free with a certificate from the employer. Up to two people per address can obtain this right.
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Parking near nurseries, kindergartens, and schools (within 25 meters) will remain free from 8:00 to 8:30.
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No parking fees will be charged in the green zone on Saturdays.
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Those who bought a parking pass for July but do not use it in August will be reimbursed by DV Parking Ltd.
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In the second phase of the system overhaul, new areas will be included; residents in these areas can already register for free parking at www.dvparking.hu — nearly five thousand registrations have been received so far.
Grace period:
It was announced that there will be a one-week grace period in old paid zones and a three-week grace period in newly included areas after implementation, during which no fines will be imposed for unpaid parking.
Council debate:
Mayor László Papp noted that many complaints have been received from residents about parking difficulties, and previous expansions did not solve the problem but caused issues in other streets. He added that the zone system has been successful in other cities and has been prepared in Debrecen for over a year.
Zsuzsanna Salánkiné Kuti, representing the Mi Hazánk Movement, argued that public transport development and P+R parking facilities should be prioritized instead. She also proposed that free parking be granted based on residence registration. The mayor responded that new P+R lots are planned along Kassai and Mikepércsi roads by 2026, and other locations in the northern part of the city are also being sought.
Regarding residence registration, Mayor Papp noted that many live in Debrecen without official registration, which affects state funding, so the issue will be reconsidered.
Public and opposition feedback:
The Civil Forum Debrecen Association criticized inadequate communication with residents. Their online survey gathered a thousand responses quickly, and they suggested the new system start only on October 1. The mayor disagreed, saying there had been enough time to collect opinions and that further delay would worsen problems. He also mentioned 12,000 leaflets were distributed and an intensive media campaign was conducted.
Károly Pákh, representing the Association for the Cohesion of Cívis City, proposed the first 30 minutes of parking be free and discounted passes for public service workers. The mayor said these suggestions would be difficult to enforce.
István Madarasi (from the same association) requested the regulation be adjustable based on practical experience, which Mayor Papp agreed with.
Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs emphasized that the development of the city’s traffic control center and suburban public transport will significantly improve Debrecen’s traffic situation in the long term.
It was also noted that free resident parking permits will be available for motorcycles as well.
The council majority rejected opposition amendments, approving only proposals from Fidesz–KDNP.